Val Senales to mark 35 years since discovery of Ötzi

In 2026, Val Senales will commemorate two major milestones regarding the relationship between humanity and the Alpine environment: the 35th anniversary of the discovery of Ötzi the Iceman and the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Tessa Group Natural Park.

On September 19, 1991, Erika and Helmut Simon discovered a naturally preserved mummy emerging from the glacier at the Tisa Pass, at an altitude of 3,210 meters near the border of Italy and Austria. Identified as a Copper Age man who lived over 5,300 years ago, Ötzi has become a global symbol of scientific research.

The discovery included various artifacts such as a copper axe, a bow, arrows, and clothing, which have allowed researchers to reconstruct daily life, diet, and health during the Copper Age. Ongoing genetic and paleopathological analyses continue to provide new insights into the life and death of the individual, who died from a wound to the shoulder.